Archive for 'Middle Eastern'

Naan Hut Brings Fresh Sangak to West L.A. (And They’re Now Serving Kebabs)

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There aren’t many things that are better than fresh baked bread, and it hardly gets fresher than sangak made from a real Persian bakery. Often referred to as “Iran’s national bread”, the first time I had sangak was at Attari Grill, where the small piece of flatbread came wrapped around a delicious koobideh kebab as part of lunch. But nothing can compare to seeing one of these four foot long surfboards of warm sour dough flatbread coming fresh out of a gigantic lazy susan’ish oven looking thing. There are no shortage of these bakeries in the valley (Asal Bakery in Woodland Hills is well worth the drive) but in the Midtown Lunch area between Downtown and Santa Monica? Not so much.

So I was super excited to hear that the (unfortunately named) Naan Hut, on Santa Monica Blvd in West L.A. had nothing to do with Indian bread… and was actually a real deal Persian sangak bakery, just like the places in the valley.

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Pita Way’s Schnitzel/Shawarma Combo is One of the Best Sandwiches I’ve Ever Eaten

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I had a “tell me what you eat and I’ll tell you who you are” moment the other day.  Fresh off my $5 pita sandwich at Shawarma Palace, I got another Pico lunch recommendation from Josh Lurie- the guy behind Food GPS.  I ran into him at my new office, and he handed me a menu for Pita Way and pointed out the half and half combo sandwich featuring shawarma and schnitzel.  Yup, you read that right.  That’s spit roast meats *and* deep fried chicken together at last- a sandwich that he said sounded right up my alley.  Translation: “I see you as a fat, disgusting pig.”  I would have been offended if I hadn’t been busy thinking “Holy shit, are you joking?  Shawarma and schnitzel on the same sandwich!?  For under $10?  That sounds like one the greatest things of all time.  I need to go eat one right now.”

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Shawarma Palace Serves a $5 Lunchtime Pita Sandwich

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The opening of a new shawarma place in L.A. isn’t exactly huge news (there’s plenty to go around), but when Food GPS called relative newcomer Shawarma Palace (on Pico just west of Robertson) the best he’s had in all of Los Angeles I couldn’t help but rush over to check it out. If you couldn’t figure it out from the address, the place is Israeli (and Kosher) and according to the post on Food GPS it was started a few months ago by a guy who used to own a shawarma spot near Tel Aviv. Sounds like the real deal to me…

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Flames Mediterranean Grill Brings Unique Shawarma Downtown

Spotted this brand new lunch spot on 7th between Broadway & Spring right after my gut busting pre Thanksgiving lunch at Clifton’s Cafeteria. It’s called Flames Mediterranean Grill and while the menu looks fairly standard (falafel, shawarma, shish kebab, schnitzel) their delicious looking rotating spit sports the unusual combo of turkey and lamb. They also have something called a shawarma fajita which could be interesting. According to this shill post on Yelp the restaurant sports the same owners as the Falafel King in Westwood. Flames, you are now on my list. Early adopters, let us know how it is in the comments.

Flames Mediterranean Grill, 225 W. 7th St., 213-622-3033

Attari Opens Sit Down “Grill” Next to Sandwich Shop

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Big news in the world of Westwood Persian food! Attari Sandwich Shop, the (not so) hidden gem on Wilkins Ave. just off of Westwood Blvd., has opened up a sit down restaurant just to the right of their cozy courtyard. Attari has long been famous for their unique sandwiches (kuku, kotlets, or tongue anybody?) and delicious kebabs, but the two month old Attari Grill gives them a chance to showcase a more upscale menu- featuring a whole host of stews more similar to their incredibly popular ab goosht (which is only served on Fridays at the sandwich shop.)

And you know what the best part is? Despite a way pricier menu, the “Grill” has a bunch of lunch specials for under $10. Naturally, I had to try all of them.

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Falafel Might Not Be the Best Thing at Arax

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For fancified Israeli falafel, you could do a lot worse than Pita Bar & Grill on Fairfax, and for a cheap, no frills, good if you’re-starving-and-in-college-on-the-west-side falafel, Hungry Pocket is your spot.  But what about some authentic Lebanese falafel action?  For that, all signs pointed to Falafel Arax in Hollywood, the next stop on my quest to find LA’s best falafel.  Situated right next to Spicy BBQ in Thai Town (on Santa Monica and Normandie), my first Falafel Arax recommendation came in the comments courtesy of Lunch’er Katherine, and since then a bunch more people have mentioned that it could be the best falafel in all of L.A. (most agree it’s the best in Hollywood.)  Clearly it was time to check it out.

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Hungry Pocket Wants to Teach You How To Eat Falafel

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This sign should have been a premonition.  Not all falafel sandwiches require this kind of attention to spillage, but the ones at Hungry Pocket certainly do… a fact I discovered the hard way yesterday.  Situated right across the street from Santa Monica College, HP was first brought to my attention by KCRW producer (and Profiled Midtown Lunch’er) Harriet Els, who listed it as one of her go-to lunches.  Her endorsement was less than enthusiastic (she called the falafel “decent”), but when this week’s Profiled Lunch’er Steven called it the best falafel he’s found in L.A. I knew it was time for a visit to this college student hang out.

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